Zeebrugge

1. Wandelaar Approach KB Buoy Pilot boards51°23.0′N 002°49.0′E

Size limits

LOA 400m, draught 15.2m, beam 61.5m, 255,288DWT

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

About 2.25nm NE of the harbour entrance the E going stream, mean direction 075°, begins at -0310 HW Zeebrugge. The W going stream, mean direction 253°, begins at +0210 HW Zeebrugge. The spring rate in both directions is 2.5kts.

Off the harbour the E going stream begins at -0300 HW Zeebrugge and at springs has a mean rate of 2kts from 2 hours before to 1.5 hours after HW Zeebrugge, with a maximum rate of 4kts at -0100 HW Zeebrugge. At neaps the mean rate is 1kt from 2 hours before to 1 hour after HW Zeebrugge with a maximum rate of 2kts.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The approach to Zeebrugge starts at the Wandelaar Pilot station, 18nm W of the port, where the pilot boards. Direct access to the port is via the deep draught channels of "Het Scheur" and "Ribzand" or a coastal channel named "Wielingen". The "Pas van het Zand", a beaconed and radar controlled channel, with a length 2,000m, width 600m, depth 15.5m leads into the harbour entrance from the NW.

Baudouin Canal (for Brugge): Can be entered directly by the Visart Lock. The total length of the Baudouin Canal is 10.2km, the length between the Visart Sea Lock and the bridge at Dudzele is 6.2km. The canal width between the Visart Sea Lock and Herdersbrug at the water surface, is 70m and the width at the bottom is 22m.

The water depth is as follows, 8.4m + Z(-4.9m) + canal level Z(+3.5m), from 10.2-8.8km onwards to Bruges inner port, will be deepened to 8.0m.

Port limits

Northern: A line drawn between the seaward end of the 2 outer jetties.

Southern: Boudewijnsluis Lock.

Traffic schemes and VTS

A VTS service centre is located on the W'ly entrance of the new outer harbour, 51°21.6'N 003°11.0'E. Vessels are required to report to the VTS 30 minutes prior to arrival at the outer limits of the area. See also Communications and ETA Sections.

Anchorages

Near "AN" Buoy for vessels with a draught of more than 9.7m, for other vessels near "Scheur-Zand" Buoy.

Anchorage 2nm ENE of the harbour entrance in depths of 8.0m, also in good weather in Ribzand (51°23'N 003°08'E) between Scheur and Wielingen.

Restrictions

Vessels with draught exceeding 12.0m are dependent on the tide for entry.

The Pierre Vandamme Lock: Length 500m between outer gates, width 57m, sill depth Z(-15m) MLWS. The water level in the inner port is at Z(+3.50m) MLWS, according to the level of the tide in the outer port the water depth in the lock varies between 15-18.5m.

The Visart Lock: Length 210m, width 19.7m, sill depth Z(-5.50m)MLWS, the water level in the Baudouin Canal is at Z(+3.50m), according to the level in the outer port the usable water depth in the lock varies from 5.5-9.0m. Currently closed.

Brugge: There is an air draught restriction of 48m and a max width restriction of 21m.

Dangerous Cargo: Explosives: At the Quays No 140-144 including the Wielingen Dock, explosives in quantities up to 250t (net explosive content) of all classes can be shipped on the condition that the Western Dam is closed completely for all traffic.

Tugs

From Lightbuoy "Scheur-zand" there are 6 tugs permanently available, bollard pull, 45-65t, extra tugs are available on request if contacted on VHF

Ch 71, at least 6 hours in advance.

Bruges: Tugs are available.

Application should be made to Port Control, Zeebrugge on VHF Ch 71 at least 6 hours in advance.

The address for the towage service is: Unie van Reddings-en Sleepdienst, Zeebrugge branch, Zeebrugge Shipping and Bunkering Co, Kiwiweg 80, B-8380 Zeebrugge, Tel: +32 50 542535.

The vessel in tow must provide the tow lines.

Charts and publications

BA 116, 1872, 1873, 1874, 8012, 8011. Admiralty Pilot NP28, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

See also Pilot and Communications Sections.

Communications

See also Pilot and ETA sections.

Standard messages

None, except for vessels with draught restrictions, which will be advised of river tidal levels.

Notice of readiness

Normally tendered on arrival at pilot station or on berthing.

Health

The master must sign the Maritime Declaration of Health issued by the pilot.

Pratique is normally granted at the pilot station, providing the health situation is satisfactory, any advice on health matters is also obtainable from the pilot service.

Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates only used and can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

The master is required to hand in properly completed, dated and signed IMO forms, Crew List and Passenger List in duplicate. These should be handed in as soon as possible, at the latest within 12 hours after arrival, to the office of the Maritime and River Police, Tel: +32 50 557630, Fax: +32 50 557646. This can be done directly or via agent.

The master is required to report immediately to the Maritime Commissioner any stowaways, should there be any onboard. The Master will be responsible if stowaways disembark without the permission of this authority.

Yachtsmen and passengers should be in possession of a valid passport, (or ID card) and a Benelux or Schengen visa.

The Customs Head Office can be contacted by Tel: +32 60 545455, Fax: +32 50 545935.

Flags

Vessels are obliged to fly their national colours when entering and leaving the port and from sunset on Sundays and public holidays. On Good Friday, they should fly their colours at half-mast.

Notices and regulations

The port authorities can deny entry to the port to explosives and/or ammunition or other hazardous cargo. All hazardous cargo (IMO-registered) onboard must be reported to the port authority 24 hours prior to the arrival of a vessel.

The harbour master must be given 48 hours prior notice stating the date and the expected hour of arrival of vessels loaded with explosives or ammunition. The notice should be immediately confirmed in writing. Any change in the expected time of arrival must immediately be brought to the notice of the harbour master and confirmed in writing.

Vessels loaded with explosives or ammunition may only call at the outer harbour at the time authorised by the harbour master.

LNG vessels: LNG tankers bound for Zeebrugge will be escorted by a patrol craft and, between the pilot boarding position and the berth, VTS-SM will notify all other vessels of her position. All vessels must pass at least 0.2nm off the LNG tanker. Between S3 Lightbuoy and Z Lightbuoy no other vessel may overtake or cross ahead of the LNG tanker unless they have consent and also that of VTS-SM. Between SZ Lightbuoy and the harbour entrance the LNG tanker will be secured to four tugs. After passing Z Lightbuoy, a fifth tug will be in attendance and Zeebrugge Port Control will coordinate all shipping movements in order to maintain a minimum passing distance of 0.2nm.

LNG tankers are considered to be vessels constrained by their draught and shall display the appropriate signals in accordance with Rule 28 of The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Federal Port Security Committee.

Position: Chairman

Address: Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport, DG Maritime Transport, Aarlenstraat 104, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium.

Tel: +32 2 233 1279

Fax: +32 2 230 1969

Mob: +32 475 818465

Email: [email protected]

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Information required by the ISPS Code should be sent, as follows:

1. E-mail: [email protected]

2. Facsimile: 32-579-68-83

The following information should be sent 24 hours prior to arrival at a Belgian port:

1. Ship's name.

2. IMO number.

3. Flag.

4. INMARSAT/GSM number.

5. Port facility of destination.

6. ETA.

7. Port ID number.

8. UN Locator number.

9. Assigned port facility number.

10. Availability of ISSC or Interim ISSC (state Yes or No).

11. Date of expiration of ISSC or Interim ISSC (in format of YYYY/MM/DD).

12. Issuing authority of ISSC or Interim ISSC.

13. Security level ship is currently operating at (Level 1,Level 2, or Level 3 with reason(s), if known).

14. Last ten ports of call and Security Level at which the ship operated.

15. For the last ten ports of call have any special security measures been taken during ship/port interface (state Yes or No)?

16. Within the period of the last ten calls at port facilities, has the ship conducted ship-to-ship activities and were the appropriate

ship security procedures maintained (state Yes or No)?

17. Is there any other security-related information (state Yes or No)?

If the transit time from the previous port is less than 24 hours, the required information should be sent when leaving the previous port.

Repairs

Vessel and container repair facilities available.

Dry docks

Drydock in the inner port, length 106m, width 34m, handling vessels up to 7,000t.

There is a slipway on the W quay of the Prince Philip Dock, Quay No 305, which is currently not in operation. The actual maintenance of vessels is carried out by the ship owner.

Slope 248m; width of cradle 17.5m; length of cradle 76m. Capable of handling ships up to 1,000t, the transfer area has a length of 8m; width 25m.

There is a tower crane available, lifting height 30m; max reach 30m; lifting capacity, 1.8t with jibs at 29m, 6t with jibs at 11m.

Several vessels can use the slope and transfer area simultaneously.

The area of the adjacent grounds are 3.8ha which can be used by various vessel repairs.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available. A bunker depot is available providing service throughout 24 hours. Bunkers can also be delivered by barge if required.

Oil Transfer Procedure list is to be completed before bunkering is started.

Medical

Fabiola-Blankenberge Hospital, 7km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Ostend, 30km; Brussels National Airport, 110km.

Nearest railway: Zeebrugge, (local); Brugge, 14km. All quays and terminals are railway linked.

All terminals within the port have rail facilities, several trains per day, NEN/CNC Network, Railtrans, Transfracht Eurail cargo, Intercontainer Interfrigo and TRW provide a link between the port and the major industrial centres of Europe.

B-Cargo: The "Dry Port Zeebrugge" will be operated by Inter Ferry Boats in the near future.

Road: There are two 4 lane major roads which link the port with the European E40 and the E17 motorways, providing direct access to the hinterland in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

Working hours

Normally 0600-1345hrs; 1400-2145hrs and 2200-0545hrs. Dayshift 0800-1545hrs.

Where it is

Zeebrugge lies on the Belgian coast of the North Sea, 12nm W of the mouth of the Scheldt estuary, 5.4nm W of the Dutch/Belgian border.

The port

Antwerp and Zeebrugge is currently operating under the name 'Port of Antwerp-Bruges' since 22 April, 2022.

The port handles containers, Ro-Ro and bulk traffic and is a transshipment hub for coastal and river traffic. Principal commodities handled include vehicles, LNG and forestry products.

Due to the port's position on the open sea, vessels port steaming time is reduced to a minimum.

A new dredging programme aims to accommodate vessels with a 16.7m draught.

The outer port is accessible without going through any locks, one additional hour is needed to berth in the inner port.

The outer port of Zeebrugge: This reclaimed land area is fully protected by 2 major breakwaters, (the W with a length of 4,280m and the E with a length of 4,030m) and by a smaller one inside the harbour, (2,487m).

The inner port of Zeebrugge: The inner port, (approx size 1,300ha) has 4 docks,

accessed by 2 locks:

Pierre Vandamme Lock, 500m in length; width 57m; with a usable depth of 18.5m.

Visart Lock, 210m in length, (165m is usable); width 19.7m, depth according to tidal conditions. Currently not in use.

A junction lock for barges links the port with the Ostendbruges and Ghent Canal and with the national and international waterways system.

Bruges: The Port of Bruges is connected to Zeebrugge by the Baudouin Canal approx 10km in length. Consisting of three docks, East, West and the Industrial Dock.

Traffic

Approx 267,000,000t of cargo and 14,000,000TEUs merged traffic figure with Antwerp Port handled annually. Zeebrugge Port approximately also handles 7,000 vessels and 80,000 passengers annually.

Where does the pilot board at Zeebrugge?

The pilot boards at Wandelaar Approach KB Buoy, 51°23.0′N 002°49.0′E.

What time zone is Zeebrugge in?

Local time at Zeebrugge is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Zeebrugge?

The deepest berth listed is at CSP Zeebrugge: 15.20 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Zeebrugge?

1025.

Which load line zone is Zeebrugge in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Zeebrugge?

Port State Control at Zeebrugge: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Zeebrugge?

The UN/LOCODE of Zeebrugge is BEZEE.

What crews who called at Zeebrugge say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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